I’ve tried dry brushing on and off over the years, but I never really stuck with it. However, this skincare routine isn’t just popular with celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Tracee Ellis Ross—it’s also a favorite among well-respected nutritionists and functional health doctors. Everyone raves about the many health and skin benefits of dry brushing, so now I’m definitely curious to learn more.
Vogue’s Favorite Dry Brushes
Best With Copper Bristles: HigherDose Supercharge Copper Body Brush, $69
Best Comfortable Handle: Kate McLeod The Dry Brush Exfoliating Body Tool, $26
Best Long-Handle: Goop Ultimate Dry Brush, $25
Best Compact Brush: Joanna Czech The Dry Massage Body Brush, $39
Best With Natural Materials: Shelter Skin Sculpting Copper Dry Brush, $68
In This Story:
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The Downsides
How Often Should You Dry Brush?
At-Home Dry Brushing vs Treatment
How to Clean a Dry Brush
Meet the Experts
What is Dry Brushing?
As the name suggests, dry brushing means running a bristled brush over dry skin—usually on your body, not your face. “It’s a powerful Ayurvedic practice that exfoliates the skin and opens detox pathways to support lymphatic drainage and boost immunity,” says Lauren Berlingeri, co-founder of HigherDose.
This simple pre-shower ritual isn’t just used in Ayurvedic medicine to stimulate the skin and the body’s lymphatic system—it’s also part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It’s a practice that has stood the test of time, which is always a good sign when you’re trying to figure out if a wellness “trend” is really worth it.
The Benefits of Dry Brushing
Besides helping with lymphatic drainage to detoxify the body, dry brushing is said to be great for removing dead skin cells, smoothing skin, boosting blood circulation, and reducing puffiness and water retention. It’s also a wonderful way to energize your body and mind, especially in the morning. Some people claim it helps reduce the appearance of cellulite, but from what I’ve looked into, that seems a bit unproven.
Sophie Bolvary, a licensed massage therapist at Sanara, adds that dry brushing may support your immune system. “The lymphatic system doesn’t have its own pump, so it only starts working when we move our body or when it’s stimulated manually through dry brushing or light massage,” Bolvary explains.
She also notes that different brushes can have different effects. Dry brushes with boar hair bristles are ideal for daily use and exfoliation. Brushes with ionic copper bristles offer the added benefit of sweeping your body with negative ions, which traditional medicine says have antiviral and antibacterial properties. This can also give you a full-body and mind refresh as an extra self-care bonus.
“The brisk, rhythmic motion creates a sensory reset that I find both grounding and energizing,” she adds. “It helps sharpen mental alertness and brighten my mood.” Pro tip: Add a few drops of essential oil to your dry brush to further wake up your senses.
My Experience with Dry Body Brushing
I’ve used a dry body brush during occasional health kicks before, but I never did it regularly. Since I started doing it at least four times a week, the biggest change I’ve noticed is that my skin looks much less dull. It’s a great way to quickly remove dead skin cells that can make a fading summer tan look gray, and it’s definitely a good way to wake yourself up in the morning.
I’ve found that combining it with a “contrast” shower—switching between hot and cold water—makes me feel extremely energized, especially after a tough workout. You also don’t need to spend five minutes on it to see results. Just three minutes can leave you feeling fantastic as you start your day. It’s worth noting that, no matter how much I wished it would, dry brushing didn’t reduce my cellulite.Shaving won’t stimulate your lymphatic system enough to cure a hangover, which is honestly a shame.
If you’re new to dry brushing, you should know that after you do it, you’ll probably feel some itching or tingling, along with possible redness. That goes away quickly. With regular use, this feeling becomes less noticeable, but it’s actually a sign that your circulation is working and blood is flowing to your skin’s surface.
Dry body brushing is a simple and affordable habit to stick with, which is why I’m all for it. You can’t always see the benefits, but you can often feel them. Personally, I’ve noticed my skin tone is more even, my legs look a bit lighter (though not as toned as Gwyneth Paltrow’s, unfortunately), and I feel more energetic in the morning. I also truly believe that taking a few intentional minutes each day to do something good for yourself is underrated. Next up… time to get into body moisturizing. Here are the dry brushes we recommend.
Best With Copper Bristles: HigherDose Supercharge Copper Body Brush
$69 at Amazon, $69 at Nordstrom
Why We Love It: Recommended by Bolvary, this brush combines copper and natural horsehair bristles for a perfect balance of effective yet gentle exfoliation. After a few uses, your skin will look and feel much smoother. As a bonus, the copper bristles are said to sweep your body with negative ions, which can stimulate your lymphatic system and provide antibacterial and antiviral benefits.
Editor’s Experience: “I never really got into dry brushing—I’m pretty lazy and don’t like adding steps to my routine. But I heard great things about this brush, so I gave it a try, and now I’m a believer. It feels luxurious and gentle, and I actually enjoy using it all over my skin. With consistent use, my skin feels smoother and looks more radiant. That’s especially important in summer when I’m layering sunscreen and bug repellent—it’s nice to have something that effectively removes debris and product buildup. As for the traditional Chinese medicine benefits, I’m still not sure, but I’m willing to keep trying.” —Audrey Noble, contributor
Bristle Material: Copper and natural horsehair
Handle Size: 13 x 8 x 4 cm
Best Comfortable Handle: Kate McLeod The Dry Brush Exfoliating Body Tool
$26 at Nordstrom
Why We Love It: This brush provides excellent targeted exfoliation. The natural blend of horsehair and sisal gently removes dirt and dead skin, prepping your body for any nourishing products you want to use. We especially love the circular, contoured bamboo handle for an easy grip, so you can dry brush thoroughly.
Bristle Material: Natural horsehair and sisal
Handle Size: N/A
Best Long-Handle: Goop Ultimate Dry Brush
$25 at Nordstrom
Why We Love It: The natural sisal fibers feel great on your skin and provide a very gentle exfoliation to remove dead skin cells. What we really like is the long handle, which makes it easy to reach your back and other hard-to-reach areas. So get ready to look smoother and brighter all over.
Bristle Material: Natural sisal fibers
Handle Size: N/A
Best Compact Brush: Joanna Czech The Dry Massage Body Brush
$39 at Shopbop, $39 at FWRD
Why We Love It: The tampico bristles are soft but firm enough to really get your blood circulating and help clear away buildup on your skin. The result is a smoother surface and a brighter glow overall. Plus, it’s one of the easiest brushes to throw in a bag and travel with.Dry brush wherever you’re headed.
Bristle Material: Tampico
Handle Size: 4.75 in.
Best With Natural Materials: Shelter Skin Sculpting Copper Dry Brush
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Shelter Skin
Sculpting Copper Dry Brush
$68
SHELTER SKIN
Why We Love It: Another pick from Bolvary, this brush is made with copper and horsehair—all natural materials. The fine copper wire gently removes buildup from your skin and gives it an energizing boost, so your skin looks more refreshed. The horsehair helps sweep away any leftover debris for super smooth skin. We also love the cherry-stained hardwood handle; it looks so luxurious, and we can’t resist a chic design.
Bristle Material: Fine copper and natural horsehair
Handle Size: N/A
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Everything You Need to Know
The Downsides of Dry Brushing
There are a few negative side effects if you’re not careful. Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology, says that using too much pressure can cause irritation or tiny tears in the skin. You should also consider any skin conditions you have and whether your skin type can handle the brushing. Dr. Garshick says it’s not recommended for people with sensitive, broken, or inflamed skin, like eczema or psoriasis.
Bolvary adds that you need to clean your brush regularly (more on that later). Because dry brushing exfoliates, dead skin can build up in the brush, making it less effective or causing more irritation.
How Often Should You Dry Brush?
Dr. Garshick says that if you have sensitive skin, dry brushing once or twice a week is enough, since doing it more often can cause irritation. But if your skin can handle it, Bolvary says it can be a daily habit. She suggests doing it at the start of your day, right before you shower. “Some people find it more stimulating and energizing than a cup of coffee,” she says.
At-Home Dry Brushing vs. Professional Treatment
Getting a dry brush treatment from a professional is more thorough. “The practitioner does the work and reaches all the hard-to-reach areas, while you just enjoy the awakening sensations,” says Bolvary. “They can also show you the right technique and pressure for your skin and body type.”
But that doesn’t mean doing it at home isn’t helpful. She says it’s useful to look at a lymphatic glow map (“A very easy Google search,” she says, “which shows the general flow of lymph and how to brush toward the main lymph nodes in your body”). After a few tries, she says you’ll get the hang of it.
How to Clean a Dry Brush
Bolvary says that because dry brushes are usually made from natural materials, it’s best to use natural, chemical-free cleaning solutions. “I like to fill a bowl with warm water and a few drops of tea tree oil, then place the brush bristles down and let it soak for about 30 minutes. After that, set it aside to dry.”
Keep in mind that your brush will soften over time and may shed a little with regular washing. “These tools aren’t meant to last forever,” she says. “So if your brush has become too soft and bristles fall out every time you use it, it might be time for a new one.”
Try to wash your brush every two weeks and spritz it with something like tea tree mist after each use. Bolvary also recommends letting it air dry in a window, rather than on your shower ledge where it can easily get dirty.
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a complete approach to give well-rounded recommendations. First, we rely on Vogue’s vast network of experts and editors.We consulted a network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians—to gain professional insight into the top products in the industry, the ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We combine their expertise with our editorial best practices to create the thoughtful recommendations you see on our site.
For dry brushes, we selected the best based on these features: bristle type, texture, handle length, size, and the skin and wellness concerns they address. To do this, we tested each product ourselves, paired with expert advice and reviewer feedback, to decide which ones we’d recommend to you. Learn more about our testing process here.
Meet the Experts
– Lauren Berlingeri, co-founder of HigherDose.
– Marisa Garshick, MD, board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology.
– Sophie Bolvary, licensed massage therapist at Sanara.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about daily dry body brushing covering beginner and advanced questions
Beginner Questions
1 What exactly is dry body brushing
Its exactly what it sounds like You use a firm naturalbristle brush on your dry skin before you shower You typically brush in long sweeping motions toward your heart
2 What are the main benefits of doing it every day
The biggest benefits are smoother skin a temporary energy boost and helping to reduce the appearance of cellulite by improving circulation Many people also say it helps them feel more awake in the morning
3 Do I use soap or lotion with the brush
No The dry part is important You brush on dry skin You can apply lotion or oil after your shower but the brushing itself is done on a completely dry body
4 How do I actually do it correctly
Start at your feet and brush upwards toward your heart using long firm strokes On your stomach and armpits use gentle circular strokes Always brush toward the center of your chest
5 Is it supposed to hurt
No It should feel stimulating like a firm massage If it hurts stings or leaves red welts you are pressing too hard Start with light pressure and let your skin get used to it
Advanced ProblemSolving Questions
6 Ive heard it helps with cellulite Is that true
It can help reduce the appearance of cellulite temporarily The brushing improves blood flow and breaks down toxin deposits under the skin which can make dimpling look less noticeable It wont make cellulite disappear permanently but it helps the skin look firmer and smoother
7 Can I dry brush my face
Yes but you need a special much softer brush designed for the face Do not use your body brush on your face Even then its best to be very gentle and avoid it if you have acne rosacea or eczema
8 How often should I replace my brush
Replace the brush head or the entire brush every 3 to 6 months The bristles will start to bend and lose their stiffness making them less effective and potentially harboring bacteria